“I anticipate we will secure some form of a medal. I sincerely hope it’s the gold.” Ally MacLeod’s overconfidence in 1978 is forever etched in history. Following a defeat to Peru and a draw with Iran, he faced the consequences. In contrast, Steve Clarke has maintained a more cautious approach, steering clear of bold forecasts. The excitement now rests on the shoulders of the fans. Who could possibly argue against their optimism?
In their final match before making a World Cup appearance for the first time in 28 years, Scotland delivered a commanding performance against Bolivia. Any concerns about a pivotal clash with Haiti next weekend dissipated quickly. If Clarke’s squad can maintain this level of ruthlessness and precision when the tournament commences, they stand a genuine chance of progressing past the group stage for the first time ever. This friendly, initially viewed as a mere formality, instead instilled a profound sense of confidence among Scottish supporters. Scotland will cherish their inaugural encounter with Bolivia.
With Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay, and Ché Adams scoring twice, Scotland surged to a four-goal lead by halftime. It was an exhilarating display. While it’s fair to acknowledge the limitations of the opposition, that’s precisely the caliber Scotland will face in their opening Group C match. The squad eased off the gas in the second half, but their approach remained commendable. The pressing question now is: will the team perform under pressure?
Shankland has solidified his position as a certain starter for the upcoming match against Haiti. He joins a lineup that likely includes Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey, McTominay, and John McGinn. Clarke seems inclined to pair Adams with Shankland up front, given their effective synergy against Bolivia. Clarke faces challenging decisions regarding who will start in goal and in central defense in Boston. Ryan Christie’s standout performance against Bolivia should bolster his chances for inclusion against Haiti.
“We are as ready as we can be at this point,” remarked Clarke. “Now, we must ensure we kick off the tournament on a high note. It’s rare for me to receive everything I request, so I’m pleased with that. I have fantastic options to consider.”
Under the sweltering heat of New Jersey, Scotland made a brilliant start. Robertson executed a one-two with Christie before lofting a cross to the back post. Bolivia’s goalkeeper, Guillermo Viscarra, failed to deal with Shankland’s header, but Scotland’s No. 20 was unfazed. This marked his third goal in just two matches. Adams, who was vibrant throughout, tested Viscarra before narrowly missing with a shot.
A second goal soon followed. Shankland cleverly laid the ball back to McTominay, whose low strike from 18 yards found the back of the net, exploiting Viscarra’s shortcomings. Bolivia enjoyed a momentary reprieve during the first drinks break, but it proved fleeting.
Scotland’s third goal showcased their quality. Hickey set up the advancing Ben Gannon-Doak, who responded to prior criticism by delivering a precise cross to Adams. The Torino forward made no mistake. Typically underwhelming in friendly matches, Scotland was in formidable form.
This performance was a significant boost for Clarke. Bolivia holds a higher ranking than Haiti, whom Scotland will need to defeat to advance to the World Cup’s knockout stages. Viscarra provided a glimpse of his inadequacy with a 40th-minute save from Gannon-Doak, while Robertson was unfortunate not to find the net from the resulting corner.
Scotland matched a first-half scoreline margin record previously set against England in 1878 and last equaled against the Faroe Islands two decades ago. Gannon-Doak, making a strong case for a World Cup starting position, drove forward from midfield. He passed to Adams, who scored after an initial attempt was saved by Viscarra. The Scots headed into halftime leading 4-0, marking a remarkable feat of scoring four goals in consecutive games.
“Ben did himself a world of good today,” commented Clarke regarding Gannon-Doak. “We know the impact he can have.”
Shankland inexplicably shot wide from Kieran Tierney’s cross shortly after the hour mark. Later, George Hirst came close to adding a fifth goal. Substitutions, combined with the oppressive heat, had slowed Scotland’s rhythm. Only Scott McKenna, Dykes, and Nathan Patterson did not see any action. The match had transitioned into a phase where Scotland merely needed to manage their lead, particularly avoiding the injury that had derailed Billy Gilmour’s World Cup aspirations just a week prior.
This time, there were no negative notes. Clarke would prefer to avoid channeling his inner MacLeod. Still, Scotland heads into the tournament with a collective spring in their step.
